In view of the immeasurable suffering in the Gaza Strip, the aid organisations Misereor and medico international are calling on the German government to support an agreement on a ceasefire and thus the protection of all civilians. In addition, Israel must be called upon to open aid corridors immediately. According to the United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (UNOCHA), 2.2 million people are at acute risk of starvation, including over one million children and young people, 85 per cent of whom are displaced in the enclave with no prospect of a safe haven.
70 per cent of children who visit medical facilities suffer from malnutrition, anaemia, weight loss or multiple vitamin deficiencies. "According to our partners, there is a lack of everything: water, food and medicine. It is a man-made tragedy and unacceptable that the ongoing attacks are also affecting the civilian population in Gaza and causing mass displacement. There is a lack of proportionality, humanitarian aid is being withheld and the lives of hundreds of thousands are being jeopardised," explains Pirmin Spiegel, Chief Executive of Misereor.
Special responsibility
"As one of Israel's closest allies, the German government also has a special responsibility in this situation to fulfil its own obligations with regard to human rights and international law," says medicos CEO Tsafrir Cohen. "The German government repeatedly emphasises the special nature of relations between Germany and Israel, and now it must live up to this responsibility. It should use all the means at its disposal and, if necessary, apply appropriate pressure to demand the implementation of the legally binding orders issued by the International Court of Justice in The Hague in January against the war cabinet under Netanyahu."
An alliance of Israeli organisations, including the Misereor partner organisation "Rabbis for Human Rights", underlines the demands of medico and Misereor: "Nowhere in Gaza is the civilian population safe. We therefore call on all parties to call for an immediate ceasefire and to allow unhindered access and delivery of humanitarian aid and goods into and through Gaza, as ordered by the International Court of Justice. Hamas must unconditionally release all those taken hostage on 7 October. The international community must ensure that all those responsible are held accountable for serious violations of international humanitarian and human rights law."
Exhausted and traumatised
"After more than five months of war and displacement, people are hungry, exhausted and traumatised. Since last week, two children have been dying every day in Gaza from hunger and dehydration. A ceasefire is the only solution to prevent the deaths of starving children," says Bassam Zaqout, a doctor from southern Gaza who is helping to organise aid for medico's partner organisation, the Palestinian Medical Relief Society.
Misereor and medico are supporting local aid organisations in Gaza that are helping people in this emergency situation with medical care, food aid and other basic needs.
